The 13 Questions To Ask Yourself While Packing

Packing can be stressful if you don't ask yourself some very important questions. Without proper thought and planning, it is very easy to over-pack and be unprepared for your destination.

These are the most important things to consider.

WEATHER. Yes, obviously weather is important. But let's breakdown what this actually means. 

• What is the destination's temperature? 
• What season will it be? 
• Is it rainy season? This is something you should know! #WaterproofEVERYTHING
• Does the temperature change drastically during the early morning or late night? If you plan on going out to bars/clubs, you could be packing the wrong type of clothing. For example- in Cusco, Peru, it gets very cold at night. Most people wear sweaters and long pants to go out in, then take their sweater off once they get there. If you bring shorts and tank-tops as your clubbing clothes for Cusco, you are going to freeze!
• What is the humidity? This immediately affects the material of clothing you bring. No or low humidity allows you to have many more options for daily-ware.

ACTIVITY PLANS. 

• What kinds of activities do you plan on doing?
  • ​Hiking? On a concrete trail? In the wilderness? On slippery rocks by a river? Your shoes matter. 
  • Do you plan on doing any active water activities? Scuba diving? Snorkeling? Deep-boarding? Cliff jumping? Your bathing suit and active-wear matter. Trust me. You don't want to have a wardrobe malfunction. Mental note: If you are going to go deep-boarding, ladies- please just wear a shirt over your bathing suit and men- tie your shorts, tight. Please and thank you. 
  • What's the nature of your activities? Formal? Informal? Casual? Sporty? Do you plan on going salsa dancing? You probably shouldn't be in sport-shorts and a t-shirt. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

• Do you plan on washing your clothes? Yes? How- by hand in a sink? in a hotel laundry service? by dropping it off in a lavanderia? This immediately affects the material​ of clothing you bring.
• Do you plan on buying any clothing souvenirs? If you know you want to buy an Incan alpaca wool hat, don't bring a cold weather beanie with you. Think in advance what you would like to pick up while you're adventuring and pack a little less. 
• What are the modesty rules at your destination? Will you be visiting historic churches or temples? Many places require a certain level of modesty before entering. Make sure you have at least one outfit that includes long pants/skirt and a shirt that covers your chest and shoulders. Bro tanks and spaghetti straps are not allowed. 
• What is the wildlife like? Do you have to protect yourself from huge mosquitoes, tiny sand flies, or ginormous leaf-cutter ants? Wear long sleeves and long pants on jungle hikes. You'll sweat, but you'll thank me later. 

GENERAL TIPS.

• If you plan on being in a very heavily humid area or plan on washing your own clothes, quick dry clothes are definitely your go-to. 
• Pack a bag (like a large garbage bag or an old garment bag) to put your worn clothes in. I call this bag my grimy bag. Having your clothes separated (clean and dirty) can make unpacking and packing much easier when travelling. 
• Bugs are almost everywhere.  Even the insect repellent with a super high level of deet can leave you covered in unwanted scabs and welts. Wear long socks. Spray them with repellent. Be covered as much as possible if you are in a tropical area. Also, bring anti-itch cream. You will get bitten! 
• Only pack one pair of sunglasses (cheap ones). Don't waste bringing your nice ones. There is always a man pushing sunglasses on the street. You can literally find RayBan knockoffs everywhere and they're super cheap!